Winding machine



Dec. 23, 1941. J ABBOTT 2,266,726

WINDING MAqI-IINE Filed June 6, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Kym Dec, 23, 1941.

E. J. ABBOTT WINDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1939 Dec. 23, 1941. E. J. ABBOTT 2,266,726

WINDING MACHINE Filed June 6 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 157126756 07 zwwwzfla azz Dec. 23, 1941. E. J. ABBOTT 2,266,726

WINDING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I II Dec. 23, 1941. E. J. ABBOTT WINDING MACHINE Filed June 6 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 17w, 6753b)" mm'dmqfi y Patented Dec. 23, 1941 WINDING MACHINE Edward .1. Abbott, Wilton, N. 11., assignor to Abbott Machine Company, Wilton, N. IL, a corporation of New Hampshire Application June 6, 1939, Serial No. 277,618

27 Claims.

This invention relates to winding machines of the traveling multiple-unit type and more particularly to machines adapted to wind yarn packages in which the winding yarn is laid in axially advancing conical layers, a typical instance of such package being the filling wound package. My copending application Serial No. 576,978, filed November 24, 1931, now Patent No. 2,160,810, discloses and claims the combination of a plurality of flexibly connected winding units each adapted to carry a winding package core, means for moving the units ina path of elongated shape including a straight portion of substantial length, means for rotating the several packages during their travel in said straight portion of the path, and means operative during the winding to distribute the strand in conical layers of less length than the finished package length, and means for shifting the ranges of strand traverse axially of the package.

The United States reissue Patent No. 18,310 of EdwardJ. Abbott and William G. Abbott, Jr., discloses a traveling multiple-unit winding machine in which the rotation of the winding packages and the operation of the traverse mechanisms on the traveling winding units is brought about by mechanical connections, more particularly long non-traveling tractor rolls, common to a number of the traveling units. In that reissue patent the winding packages are of the typical cross-wound cheese construction. and grow radially as they travel along the tractor rolls. On the other hand, winding packages of the type produced by my copending application Serial No. 576,978 in which the packages grow axially are not adapted to receive their winding rotation by frictional contact with the long tractor rolls of the said reissue patent and my copending application Serial No. 576,978 drives the winding packages and their traverse mechanisms by providing each winding unit with an individual electric motor. i

An object of this invention is to improve traveling-unit winding machines of the general type disclosed in said reissue patent and copending application in such manner as to secure the production of axially growing packages, particularly the filling wound type of package, on traveling winding units by means of mechanical driving connections common to a number of the traveling units. Preferred examples of the invention proon a winding machine having the general frame construction and non-traveling tractor roll convide for the production of this type of package a ting the production of this filling wound type of package on traveling winding machines having the general organization of the traveling spindle winding machines now in common use for the productionof the typical cross-wound cheese.

Further objects of'the invention are to improve and simplify the driving connections for the winding packages and traverse mechanisms of traveling unit winding machines.

Other objects of invention and features of advantage and utility will be apparent from this specification and its drawings, wherein the invention is explained by way of example.

The winding machine is provided with a frame and traveling-unit guideway such as is disclosed in the said reissue patent and copending application, the guideway having relatively long straight side portions and circular ends, and in the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, is provided with non-traveling tractor rolls 50 constructed and driven in the manner disclosed in the said reissue patent. Each form of the winding machine is provided with a large number of individual flexibly connected winding units (for example one hundred) moved in a continuous manner around the machine by any suitable driving chains such as those disclosed in said reissue patent and copending application.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through one side'of the guideway and through the corresponding tractor roll of the machine, showing one of the traveling winding units;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the winding unit of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 (but facing in the opposite direction) showing a modified form of winding unit partially in vertical section;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partially in horizontal section, of the mechanism of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 5, showing particularly the means for guiding the yarn onto the winding package;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a further'modified form of traveling unit;

Fig. 8 is a, plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section through the guideway and package driving mechanism of a further modified form of the machine showing in side elestruction of the said reissue patent, thus permit- Vation e f he Winding units and y r raversthe growing yarn against the roll 56.

ing mechanism common to the several units of the machine; and

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a fragment of one side of the machine of Fig. 10 with parts broken away and with all of the winding units except one omitted for clarity of illustration, and showing successive positions of the winding package of a traveling winding unit.

In each of the several embodiments of the invention, similar parts being designated by the same reference numeral, each winding unit is provided with a vertical upright frame element 20 having integral therewith at its upper end a horizontal portion 2| on which are mounted a pair of flanged vertical rollers 23 running on the upper edge of the upper guide rail 21 and a horizontal roll 28 running on the inner face of the guide rail 21. At its lower end the vertical frame member 20 is guided on the lower guide rail 30 by the roller 3| and a pin 32 projecting downwardly from an inwardly extending bracket 33. The vertical frame element 20 of each wind- .ing unit is also provided near its lower end with a bracket 35 carrying any suitable supply package holder such as a pin, peg or the like to receive and hold the unwinding supply package which is indicated at S. Each winding unit is flexibly connected to the driving chain 31 by a link 38 (Figs. 1 and 2), the chain 31 corresponding to the chain 30 of the said reissue patent and these parts being omitted from the subsequent figures of the application for clarity of illustrations.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the winding unit of this invention includes a spindle 4|! rotatably mounted in a bearing 4| and suitably shaped to interflt with and rotate the winding package core 43; A shaft 45 rotatably mounted in a further bearing 45 carries a thick cork tire frictionally engaging the tractor roll .50 and a beveled gear 55 meshing with a similar beveled gear 56 on the spindle 40. By this means the spindle 40 and the package core 43 are rotated as the winding unit travels along the tractor roll 50. The traverse mechanism is carried on a bracket 50 mounted on a slideway 6| which constitutes a horizontal extension of the head portion-of the unit. An arm 53 depending from the bracket 50 carries a suitable yarn guide such for example as the pigtail 64. A conical roll 56 is rotatably mounted on an inclined horizontal extension 51 of the bracket 60 in position for the conical surface of the roll to bear against the axially growing face of the winding package P. A spiral groove 59 in roll 66 serves as a traversing yam guide, receiving the yarn Y from the pigtail 64 and traversing it back and forth across the axially growing face of the package P. The conical roll 55 is driven frictionally by contact with the yarn of the package and, as the package grows, the bracket 60 and the traverse mechanism carried thereby are progressively shifted to the right in Figs. 1 and 2 parallel with the surface of the winding package by the pressure of In this way the package is built up of successive spiral layers of yarn from the left to the right in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 2 showing the'package about twothirds completed.

Any suitable spring or weight, not shown, may

to return the traverse a'sembly to the starting position at the left end of the new core.

In the modified form of winding unit of Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, the spindle 40 rotatably mounted in bearings 4|, is driven through the bevel gears 56 and 55 from a cross shaft which carries a cork tire 5| contacting with and frictionally driven by the tractor roll 50. The yarn Y from the supply package S runs up through the pigtail 64, over a yarn guide H and thence downwardly onto the growing conical surface of the winding package P.

The yarn guide 1| is supported on a reciprocating traverse bar I2 by a bifurcated frame 13. A friction contact disk I5 mounted on the traverse bar 12 between the two'legs of the frame 13 is internally threaded to engage half threads l2 on the traverse bar 12. The traverse bar 12 is given a reciprocating motion equal in length to the length of a conical layer of the yarn on the winding package by a heart-shaped cam 18 which engages the follower 19 at the right end of the traverse bar. The heart-shaped cam 18 is driven from the cross shaft 45 by skew gearing 82, 83. As the conical nose of the winding package P grows toward the left and the friction wheel 15 comes in contact therewith, the friction wheel is rotated by the winding package sufliciently to move the traverse assembly and yarn guide H slightly to the left, thus shifting the range of traverse progressively as the winding package grows. I When the winding package is completed and removed the traverse assembly may be restored'to the right in Figs. 4 and 5 by pressing the, friction wheel 15 in a direction to disengage its internal threads from the half threads 12 and sliding the traverse assembly to the right.

In the modified form of the winding unit of Figs. '7 to 9, inclusive, the spindle 40 mounted in bearing 4| carries a bevel wheel provided with a thick facing of cork 5| at its inner end, the spindle being so inclined that the cork facing 5| frictionally engages the tractor roll 50. The yarn guide and traverse assembly are similar to those of Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive. A second bevel wheel provided with a. thick cork facing 5| contacts with the tractor roll to drive a cam shaft 90 carrying a grooved cam 5| which in turn drives the follower 19 at the inner end of the traverse bar 12. The traverse assembly can be restored to its innermost position -for the starting of a new package in the same manner as in the device of Figs. 4 to 6. I

In the modified form of device of Figs. 10 and 11, the upper part of the winding unit is provided with bearings 4| for a vertically disposed spindle 40 on which is mounted a pulley be employed if desired to urge the traverse assembly to the left in Figs. 1- and 2, to increase the pressure between the conical roll and the growing package, and folowing the removal of the full package and substitution of a new core 5| between the bearings 4|.

Located approximately above the upper rail 21 along each straight portion of the track of the machine, and backed by flanged vertical rollers I00 there is provided a fast moving belt |0| driven by any suitable means and contacting with the pulleys 5I of the winding units. In this manner the spindle of each winding unit .is driven at a high speed during the travel of the winding unit along the straight portion of track extending along one .side of this machine. The driving is then stopped as the pulley 5| leaves the belt in passing around the semi-circular end of the machine and commences again as the pulley comes in contactv with the other belt HH at the opposite straight side of the machine.

On the winding unit the yarn Y from the sunply package S passes upwardly through any suitable tension device T and through a guide-eye I 03 on a vertical extension of the head of the winding unit.

For traversing the yarn on the winding core there is provided a long non-traveling rod or wire I05, extending along the straight portion oi the track, the yarn from the guide-eye I03 of each winding unit on the straight portion of track extending down under this rod I05 and thence onto the winding package.

The rod I05 has an inclination such that as the winding units travel from the right to the left in Fig. 11, the rod I05 will position the yarn adjacent to the base of the winding core as the unit begins to travel along the straight portion of the track and will progressively allow the yarn towind higher on the winding core until when the left end of the straightportion of track is reached, the yarn is winding on the last or outermost conical layer adjacent to the tip of the winding cone.

In order to distribute the yarn with a relatively short traverse across the growing conical nose of the package each rod I05 is given a short up and I down motion. For this purpose the rods I05 on both sides of the machine are suspended on rocker arms I which are rocked about a' central rocker shaft I01 by crank arms I08, cam followers I09 and heart-shaped cams IIO driven by suitable gearing III, II2 from a central drive shaft II3.

By this means each winding unit while traversing the straight portion of track at one side of the machine winds a complete package, the two components of the traverse motion of the yarn being supplied by the gradual upward inclination of the rod I05 and the short continuous rocking motion of rod I05. 7

I claim:

1. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of flexibly connected winding units each adapted to carry a winding package core, means for moving the units in a path of elongated shape including a straight portion of substantial length, a mechanical driving element extending along said straight portion of path, means on the several units for transmitting driving force from the said mechanical driving element to the winding package on the unit thereby to rotate the winding package during its travel, means operative during the winding to distribute the strand in conical layers of less length than the finished package length, and means for shifting the ranges of strand traverse axially of the packages.

2. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of flexibly connected winding units each adapted to carry a winding package core, means for moving the units in a path of elongated shape including a straight portion of substantial length, a non-traveling rotary tractor roll extending along said straight portion of path, means on the several units for transmitting driving force from the said tractor roll to the winding package on the unit thereby to rotate the winding package during its travel, means operative during the winding to distribute the strand package length, and means for shifting the ranges of strand traverse axially of the packages.

3. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of flexibly connected winding units each adapted to carry a winding package core, means for moving the unitsin a path of elongated shape including a straight portion of in conical layers of less length than the finished a mechanical driving element extending along substantial length, a non-traveling rotary tractor roll extending along said straight portion of path, a tire on each unit adapted to contact with and be driven by said tractor roll and a connection from said tire to the winding package for rotating the winding package during its travel, means operative during the winding to distribute the strand in conical layers of less length than the finished package length, and means for shifting the ranges of strand traverse axially of the packages.

4. A traveling unit winding machine'having therein a plurality of flexibly connected winding units each adapted to carry a winding package core, means for moving the units in a path of elongated shape including a straight portion of substantial length, a belt running along said straight portion of travel, means on the several units for transmitting driving force from the said belt to the winding package on the unit thereby to rotate the winding package during its travel, means operative during the winding to distribute the strand in conical layers of less length than the finished package length, and means for shifting the ranges of strand traverse axially of the packages.

5. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of flexibly connected winding units each adapted to carry a winding package core, means for moving the units in a path of elongated shape including a straight portion of substantial length, a belt running along said straight portion of travel, a pulley on each unit adapted to contact with and be driven by said belt and a connection from said pulley to the winding package for rotating the winding package during its travel, means operative during the winding to distribute the strand in conical layers of less length than the finished package length, and means for shifting the ranges of strand traverse axially of the packages.

6. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of flexibly connected winding units each adapted to carry a winding package core, means for moving the units in a path of .elongated shape including a straight portion of substantial length, a mechanical driving element extending along said straight portion of path, the several winding units having their winding package cores disposed transversely to the said mechanical driving element, means on the severalunits for transmitting driving force from the said mechanical driving element to the winding package on the unit thereby to rotate the winding package during its travel, means operative during the winding to distribute the strand in conical layers of less length than the finished package length, and means for shifting the ranges of strand traverse axially of the package.

7. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, a rotary tractor roll extending along the path of travel of the units, means on the several units for holding winding package cores transversely with respect to the tractor roll, and

means on the several units for transmitting driving force from the said tractor roll to the wind.- ing packages thus transversely related to the tractor roll. I

8. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding,

the path of travel of the units, means on the several units for holding winding package cores transversely with respect to the mechanical driving element, traverse means on the several units arranged to move generally axially alongv the winding package core and including means for progressively shifting the range of the traversing movement, and means on the several units for transmitting driving force from the said mechanical driving element to the winding package.

9. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, a rotary tractor roll extending along the path of travel of the units, means on the several units for holding winding package cores transversely with respect to the said tractor roll, traverse means on the several units arranged to move generally axially along the winding package core, and means on the several units for transmitting driving force from the said tractor roll to the winding package.

10. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, a mechanical driving element extending along the path of travel of the units, means on the several units for holding winding package cores transversely with respect to the mechanical driving element, traverse means on the several units arranged to move generally axially along the winding package core and including means for progressively shifting the range of the traversing movement, and means on the several units for transmitting driving force from the said mechanical driving element to the winding package and to the traverse means.

11. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, a mechanical driving element extending along the path of travel of the units, means on the several units for holding winding package cores transversely with respect to the mechanical driving element, traverse means on the several units driven frictionally from their respective winding packages, and means on the several units for transmitting driving force from the said mechanical driving element to the winding package.

12. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, a mechanical driving element extending along the path of travel of the units, means-on the several unitsfor holding winding package cores transversely with respect to the mechanical driving element, traverse means on the several units arranged to move generally axially along the winding package core, and means on the several units for transmitting driving force from thesaid mechanical driving element to the winding package and for imparting t the traverse means a traversing movement less in length than the package length.

transversely with respect to the mechanical driving element, traverse means on the several units arranged to move generally axially along the winding package core, and means on the several units for transmitting driving force from the said mechanical driving element to the winding package and for imparting to the traverse means a traversing movement less in length than the package length, the traverse means including 5 means for progressively shifting the range of said traversing movement.

14. A traveling unit winding machine havin therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding,

a mechanical driving element extending along the path of travel of the units, means on the several units for holding winding package cores transversely with respect to the mechanical driving element, traverse means on the several units arranged to move generally axially along the winding package core, means on the several units for transmitting driving force from the said mechanical driving element to the winding package and for imparting to the traverse means a traversing movement less in length than the package length, and means controlled by the growth of the winding package'for progressively shifting the range of said traversing movement.-

15. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, a rotary tractor roll extending along the path of travel of the winding units, rotatable means on the several units arranged to hold winding package cores transversely with respect to the tractor roll, a tire on each unit contacting with and driven by the tractor roll, and a connection including bevel gearing between the tire and said rotatable core-holding means.

16. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, a rotary tractor roll extending along the path of travel of the units, rotatable means on the several units arranged to hold winding package cores transversely with respect to the tractor roll, and a rotatable beveled friction element connected to the rotatable core-holding means and frictionally contacting with the tractor roll.

17. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, a rotary tractor roll extending along the path of travel of the units, each unit being arranged to hold a winding package core transversely with respect to the tractor roll, yarntraversing means'on each unit adapted to dis- --""tribute the winding yarn on the said transversely disposed package core, and a rotatable beveled friction element connected to the traversing means and frictionally contacting the tractor roll.

18. A traveling unit winding machine having so therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, a rotary tractor roll extending along the path of travel of the units, and yarn-traversing means on each unit comprising a cam, a traversing yarn usguide, a rotatable beveled friction element connected to the cam and frictionally contacting the tractor roll, and means for progressively shifting the range of traversing movement of the guide along the length of the winding package.

19. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving .the units in a procession during winding, a rotary tractor roll extending along the path of travel of the winding units, rotatable means on the several units arranged to hold winding package cores transversely with respect to the tractor roll, yam-traversing means on each unit, I

and each unit including two rotatable beveledvof travel of the units, rotatable means on the several units arranged to hold winding package cores, yarn-traversing means on each unit, and each unit including two rotatable beveled friction elements frictionally contacting with the tractor rolland connected to drive the winding package and traversing means respectively, the

' winding package and the path of traverse of the traversing means of each unit being disposed at an acute angle to the tractor roll.

21. A traveling unit winding machine ,having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding,

a rotary tractor roll extending along the path of travel oflthe units, means onthe several units arranged to hold winding package cores, means for driving the winding packages from the tractor roll, and each unit including a rotatable element arranged to contact with a conical growing face of the winding package, and yam-traversing moving the units in a procession during winding,

a rotary tractor roll extending along the path of travel of the units, means on the several units arranged .to hold winding package cores, means for driving the winding packages from the tractor roll, and each unit including a slidable bracket and a rotatable element on said bracket and arranged to contact with a conical growing face of the winding package, and yam-traversing means associated with and operated bythe said rotatable element. I

23. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, a rotary tractor roll extending along the path of travel of the units, means on the several units arranged to hold winding package cores, means for driving the winding packages from the tractor roll, and each unit including a grooved conical roll disposed to contact with and be driven by a conical growing face of the package to distribute the winding yarn thereon.

24. A traveling unit winding machine ha therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, means for rotating the winding packages of the several units, and a non-traveling yarn guide cooperating with the winding yarns of a plurality of the units, said yarn guide having an inclination such as -to cause the winding yarn to traverse slowly from one end of the winding package to the other and having a short supplemental motion such as to traverse the winding yarn back and forth across a conical grqwing face 'of the winding package.

25. A traveling u-nit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units each having I means for holding a winding package in a; vertical position, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, means for rotating the winding packages of the several units, and a non-traveling yam guide cooperating with the winding yarns of a plurality of the units, said yarn guide having a vertical inclination such as to cause the winding'yam to traverse slowly from one end of the. winding package to the other and having a short supplemental vertical motlonsuch as to traverse "the winding yarn back and forth across a conical growing face of the winding package.

26. A traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units each having means for holding a winding package in a vertical position, means for moving the units in a procession during winding, means for rotating the winding packages of the several units, and a non-traveling rod cooperating with the winding yarns of a plurality of the units,.said rod having a vertical inclination such as to cause the winding yarn to traverse slowly from one end of the windingpackage to the other and having a short supplemental vertical motion such as to traverse the winding yam back and torth across a conical growing face of the winding package.

2'LA traveling unit winding machine having therein a plurality of winding units, means for moving the units in a'procession during winding, means including a belt running along the path of travel of the units for rotating the winding winding package to the other and having a short a supplemental motion such as to traverse the winding yarn back and forth across a conical growing face of the winding package.

EDWARD J. mm. 

